Warning about scam callers impersonating police fraud officers

Warning about scam callers impersonating police fraud officers

Dear Resident

Fraudsters have been calling Hertfordshire residents claiming to be police fraud officers.

One resident was called by a well-spoken woman, who asked for the person by name and identified herself as a detective from Essex Police’s Cyber Crime Unit. She claimed that they were contacting people whose personal details had been stolen in a cyber-attack.

The woman gave the resident a legitimate contact number for Essex Police, a badge number and crime reference. She went on to say that if the victim had any concerns about the call, they could attend a local police station and meet with her directly.

Subsequent investigations with Essex Police confirmed there was no such officer and that there had been a spate of these calls involving forces across the region, including calls claiming to be from Hertfordshire’s Cyber Crime Unit.

Several police forces have issued warnings about this type of scam in recent days, with fraudsters trying to obtain personal details or gain remote access to devices.

If you receive a message or call you are not expecting, you should be suspicious. The vital things to remember are that someone working for your bank, or the police would:

NEVER ask for your bank account details or PIN, so do not disclose these to anyone, no matter who they claim to be.

NEVER ask you to withdraw money or purchase high value items and send it to them via a courier, taxi or by any other means.

NEVER ask you to send your bank cards, or any other personal property, to them via courier, taxi or by any other means.

NEVER ask to remotely access your devices.

If you are not happy with a phone call or message and are suspicious of a conversation, end it and call 101 or report online via herts.police.uk/report. In an emergency or if a crime is in progress call 999 immediately.

Remember, when reporting a suspicious phone call to police, wait at least five minutes before attempting to make the call to ensure you’re not reconnected to the offender.

Alternatively, use a mobile phone or a neighbour’s phone or test your landline by phoning a friend or relative first, to ensure you aren’t still unwittingly connected to the offender.

How to protect yourself:

Remember to follow the above advice. In addition to this, some phone companies offer call screening services that can be effective in blocking marketing cold calls and bogus callers. Contact your phone company and ask about call screening and caller display services.

How can you help?

Please share this information with your older relatives and friends: this crime has a devastating effect on people and we need to raise awareness to prevent further people becoming victims.

Report any calls you believe are suspicious as we may be able to trace where the calls are originating from. Please remember to wait at least five minutes before calling police or use a mobile or neighbour’s phone.

For more advice and information about fraud visit: www.herts.police.uk/cyber-fraud.

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